Cuttack: In a significant development in the high-profile death case of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra, the Orissa High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of DFO Sangram Keshari Behera and his cook Manmath Kumba, clearing the way for their trial on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.
A single-judge bench of Justice V. Narasingh dismissed the petitions, upholding the lower court’s order to proceed against the trio — Soumya Ranjan’s wife Bidyabharati Panda, DFO Behera, and Kumba — under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Earlier, on July 9, the High Court had directed the trial court to take cognizance of the case and initiate proceedings against the accused. The fresh order marks a turning point in the case, which has seen prolonged legal battles and interim reliefs from arrest for the accused.
The case dates back to July 11, 2021, when ACF Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra was found burnt under mysterious circumstances at his government quarters in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district. He succumbed to his injuries soon after, triggering widespread suspicion and allegations of foul play.
Although the Crime Branch initially gave a clean chit to the accused, Soumya Ranjan’s family persisted in their demand for justice. Their efforts led the Paralakhemundi SDJM Court to order a trial against the three for alleged involvement in the incident.
With the High Court’s latest decision, all three accused — Bidyabharati Panda, Sangram Keshari Behera, and Manmath Kumba — will now stand trial for murder and conspiracy in what has become one of Odisha’s most closely watched criminal cases in recent years.
